Coming To New York This Fall

HOLES IN THE SHAPE OF MY FATHER

a blues about the myth a miracle of boys becoming men

a play by Savon Bartley

A blues just for you

Hear the First 10 Minutes of Holes in the Shape of My Father

Get exclusive access to a raw, live audio recording of the show's first 10 minute presentation at The Public Theater, development commentary, and a look inside the writing process.

About

What spirals when an absent father reaches out to his son over Instagram with no apologies, no remorse, and 20 years’ worth of unanswered questions? Written and performed by the son of a mother who tried, Savon Bartley tells a story about what boys become in the absence of men. It’s about the inheritance of silence, the ache of uncertainty, and the miracle of breaking the cycle. Written entirely in verse, Holes in the Shape of my Father is a poetic reckoning with manhood, memory, and what it means to grow up without a father.

THE WORD

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

5/5
An extraordinary performance and some of the best writing i've heard in a while
Jack Moore
Associate Director of New Works at The Public Theater
5/5
A fiercly courages, affecting piece
Sarah Lunnie
Senior Dramaturg at The Public Theater
5/5
Natural and beautiful, the way poetry is supposed to be performed
Rafael Casal
Writer Director Actor (HBO Def Poetry Jam, Blindspotting, Loki)

"A boy who doesn't know his father is a boy who doesn't know himself"

FAQ

Development & Production

  • Name: Holes in the Shape of my Father
  • Run Time: 60 Minutes (No Intermmision)
  • Genre: Theater
  • Cast: One
  • #BARS Workshop @ The Public Theater (2017)
  • #BARS Workshop @ The Public Theater (2018)
  • Devised Theater Working Group @ The Public Theater (2020 – 2023)
  • INCOMING! Under The Radar Festival @ The Public Theater (2021)
  • INCOMING! Under The Radar Festival @ The Public Theater (2023)
  • Powerhouse Theater @ Vassar College (2024)

GET IN TOUCH

Performance footage, script reads, and production information are available on request. I’d love to hear from you.